Jazz for the Next Generation Competition in the offing

KATHMANDU, Sept 4: Considered the biggest jazz festival in the country, Jazzmandu has been successful at bringing musicians from around the globe to Kathmandu. In its ninth year, the festival titled, ‘Surya Nepal Jazzmandu’ will begin on October 20.



As a part of the festival, Upstairs Ideas Pvt. Ltd, organizers of the Kathmandu Jazz Festival popularly known as Jazzmandu, is organizing a music competition titled “Jazz for the Next Generation.” [break]



“This year, we have new musicians performing and the main attraction will be the music competition. The genres will vary from jazz, blues to funk,” said Samir Chettri, media coordinator of Jazzmandu.



He further opined that the event will not only provide a platform for young people to show case their talents but will also promote tourism in the country.



“We also intend to expose our talent in the jazz genre at an international level and want to let everyone know all that goes on during the jazz festival,” added Chettri.

Applications are open to all bands consisting of three or more members, under the age of 30 years, as of December 2011.



Jazzmandu will select three finalists based on the resumes, the application forms and the preliminary rounds.







The applicants are all supposed to attach a current resume consisting of musical experiences, if any, and a band photo along with the application form.



For the preliminary round, each selected band will have to prepare three songs each. The panel of judges will choose a song and they will have to perform one song during the preliminary round.



The categories of the songs could be instrumental or vocal, original or cover, and in the style of jazz, funk, blues, or fusion.



According to the organizers, the number they perform should portray the band’s ability to improvise, perform as a cohesive group, musicality and musical dexterity and professionalism on stage.



The preliminary round will be held at Moksh, Jhamsikhel, on October17.



The bands will have to use drums, keyboards and microphones already set up on stage but are allowed to bring their own guitars and horns.



Results of the preliminary round with the selected finalists will be posted on the October 19, at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory (KJC) and www.jazzmandu.com.

The selected finalists will perform three songs on the final day, at Moksh on October 20.



Each band will get 25 minutes on and offstage and points will be deducted for going over the

time limit.

The winners of different awards will be announced after their performances, on the day of Jazz for the Next Generation.



A group will be awarded the title of the “Outstanding Band” and will be given an opportunity to perform at Gokarna Jazz Bazaar. They will also get free passes for each member to the Gokarna Jazz Bazaar and Jazzmandu Finale.



The outstanding band will also get an hour-long private lesson for each member with a visiting Jazzmandu artist, on their respective instruments.

One of the members of the performing bands will get an “Outstanding Artist” award as well.



They will also get free passes and lessons, the same perks as the Outstanding Band.



Jazzmandu Artists will evaluate the bands based on their musicality, dexterity and technical abilities on their instruments, improvisation skills, and musical interaction with fellow band members, originality and stylistic representation of the music.



The deadline for the submission of applications is September 10.

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